The journey to the temple was not simple. While the smaller groups of skeletons were easy to dispatch, they had to backtrack or take a longer route multiple times to avoid the larger gatherings. To make matters worse, the continuous heat from the fire caused the trek to be even more exhausting, especially for Fujimaru and the Director.
Fujimaru was the worst off. Her posture was slumped, and her breath came out in short gasps. It was apparent that she had come from a mundane life before Chaldea and, as such, had never done anything as strenuous as walk through a burning city.
The Director seemed to be handling the trek better than Fujimaru, but I could tell it was a mask, having known her for two years. Ever since I had met Marie, I had not once seen her use the simulator for physical exercises like Beryl and I had. In fairness, she had to run Chaldea and fight off those who would try and take it from her, so I couldn't blame her.
It was only thanks to Oliver's hellish training, the months spent on the run, and my overcoat's cooling charms that kept me going. When we got back, I would have to train Fujimaru so that she wouldn't get exhausted from a small hike.
Looking ahead, I saw Mash staying strong, silently walking forward with her shield raised. While I couldn't see her face, I could guess that she was nervous about the role she had been given from the way her body twitched at every sound and movement.
Looking back, Richard was as confident as he was when first summoned. His eyes glanced this way and that, taking all our surroundings as we walked, his hand resting comfortably on his sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
"We've reached the city's edge. Where too next, Director?" Mash called out, turning to face the director. Our group stopped at the edge at her announcement, Mt Enzou looming over us. It was once probably covered in lush trees and vegetation; however, now the trees were bare, their bark dry and brittle, and the ground was blackened by fire.
Marie looked towards to summit, eyes narrowed in concentration. "The temple is close to the top of the mountain, but we're only here for a cursory look. Let's find the main staircase, and then we'll head to the Second owner's home," she explained.
With that, we continued our trek, following the mountain base. However, there was something different now that we were closer to the mountain; something had changed. There had been a feeling of being watched since we started moving toward the temple; however, now that we were at the base, that feeling had increased tenfold. The hairs on my neck were standing up, and I gripped my wand tightly.
Looking at the others, they could feel it too. Richard had lost his casual stance and had drawn his sword, eyes darting around even more than when we were in the city. Mash had raised her shield, shaking in fear or anticipation, I couldn't guess. Fujimaru and Marie had again gravitated towards each other for comfort, Fujimaru looking around wildly in fear while Marie tried to suppress hers.
We continued in search of the main staircase despite the fact we were being watched and eventually found it. It was nothing special, no magical protections or gate guardians; it was, however, really tall, much to Fujimura's annoyance.
"We have to climb that!" She exclaimed, turning to face us. "No, I only just survived the walk here, and now you want me to climb a mountain."
The Director had an affronted look on her face before anger quickly replaced it and stormed over to Fujimaru. "Excuse me. I may not like it, but you are a contracted master. As such, you have a duty-".
Whatever she was going to say was interrupted when Richard pulled both Marie and Fujimaru behind him just in time to deflect an arrow with his sword. Mash barely had a chance to raise her shield in response before she came under fire from more arrows. The speed, accuracy and fire rate were unnaturally fast, meaning that the shooter could only be one thing.
"It's an Archer class servant. Marie lead us to the owner's house. Richard and Mash guard our backs," I yelled. No one questioned my taking command and followed my directions. Richard and Mash continued to block the barrage of arrows as the Director quickly ran ahead, the rest of us following close behind.
The barrage continued, Richard more than making up for Mash's inexperience as we kept running. "This servant is incredibly skilled. Even now, he still has a bead on us," Richard praised as he deflected another group of arrows.
"That doesn't help Richard," I yelled. "Marie, we can't keep running like this. Is there any place we can take cover?" I questioned.
Marie took a moment to reply, "we should be coming up to the local school. We can take shelter in there," she panted.
I nodded in response, "we're going to take shelter at the school. Keep running just a little longer," I yelled back. I couldn't see the other's response other than a whine that was probably from Fujimaru.
We continued to run, the clang of metal echoing behind me as the Archer kept up his assault. At the next junction, Marie made a right and yelled out, "we're here, hurry!" At her call, the rest of us put on a burst of speed, following the Director and found her waiting at the gates to the school.
We ran into the school courtyard and took shelter behind the nearest building. Taking a moment to catch our breath, I listened for the tell-tale sound of incoming arrows, only to hear nothing but our harsh breathing and the crackling flames.
Getting her breathing under control, Marie turned to face us. "We'll rest here for a few hours. Hopefully, the Archer would have lost interest by then, and we can make a break for the second owner's house."
Catching my own breath, I was about to agree, but Mash spoke up. "We can't stay here, Director; we have to move now!" she exclaimed in panic.
"What do you mean-oh," the Director whirled around, only to halt mid-rant. Looking to where she was facing, I couldn't help but let out a small gasp. The sports field, which would have been used for P.E, was filled with statues. Hundreds of them littered the area, and looking around, I noticed a few more statues in the courtyard, having missed them in our panicked run from Archer.
Instantly, Richard had his sword raised; eyes once again peeled for danger. Fujimaru and Marie hid behind Mash, who had also raised her shield. "Change of plans. We run for the owner's house now!" Ordered Marie.
"But what of Archer?" I questioned, "they'll start firing on u again if they see us."
"That's a risk we'll have to take," Marie reluctantly answered, "better to face Archer than whatever did that", she explained, pointing to the statues.
I nodded reluctantly. "Alright, Richard, take the lead and follow Marie's directions, Mash, guard our backs", I ordered. Everyone nodded, and we made a beeline for the front gate, but just as we were getting close, chains suddenly materialised at the entrance, blocking our escape.
We all stopped and readied for the inevitable attack. Richard gripped his sword in both hands, Mash had her shield raised in front of her, and I prepared my wand, a slew of spells on the tip of my tongue. Marie and Fujimaru had taken to standing behind Mash, eyes darting around nervously, showing their inexperience.
"What a shame," a female voice said, "it seems you're not as foolish as my other prey." The voice echoed all around us, making it harder to locate the speaker.
"Where is she? Is it a ghost?" Fujimaru questioned, "Is she the one who made those statues?"
"It's not a ghost", I answered, still looking around. "Servants have the ability to make themselves invisible so as not to strain their master's magic circuits."
"Two unknown servants and their masters plus one Mage. You will all make excellent additions to my collection." As she spoke, her voice became less echoey and solidified as she materialised in front of us.
The first thing I noticed was her height, standing just a bit shorter than me. Her black hood made it difficult to discern her face, but I could make out cruel yellow eyes staring hungrily at us. I continued looking down, noticing that she was dressed in a rather revealing back dress that exposed her pale legs and significant bosom. In her hands, she wielded a long, curved spear.
Richard was immediately between us and the woman, sword raised. "Enemy servant identified Master, but I don't see her mast nearby," Mash said, also with her shield raised.
"With how crazy this place is, I won't be surprised if he doesn't have a master," Marie replied, her hand raised in the shape of a finger gun. I, too, had my wand pointed at her; however, I doubted its effectiveness against a servant.
The servant giggled at Marie's words, "correct, little mage. I killed my pathetic master a while ago. He wasn't fit even to be a statue."
Fujimaru, who I thought had been shaking in fear, suddenly spoke up. "Why? How could you do this?" she yelled at the servant, her voice shaky.
The servant tilted her head before looking straight at Fujimaru. "These are my hunting grounds, anyone who steps into them…" As she spoke, she moved to caress the head of a nearby statue "…they are mine to do with as I please," before tearing its head off in a shower of blood.
The sudden brutality caused Fujimaru and Mash to flinch in disgust, and the servant seemed to relish their reaction and then focused on Mash. "You're new, aren't you, girl?" she asked, beginning to edge closer. "New to being a servant, unused to the brutality of battle," she continued shuffling closer, her spear now in both hands, its curved edge pointed down.
In response, Mash slowly edged back, terrified eyes fixed on the approaching servant. "Why don't I, as your newest sempai, teach you the ropes?" the servant teased. "I will show you personally what it means to be a heroic spirit."
The servant charged forward faster than anything I had seen before in a burst of sudden movement. She was upon Mash before she could react, but Richard charged between the two and intercepted the spear with his sword just as Mash was about to be skewered. The two briefly struggled against one another before Richard pushed her away.
The enemy servant skidded to a halt, and her hood fell off her head, revealing her face. It would've been beautiful if not for the monstrous glare directed at Richard. Richard himself glared right back, not at all intimidated by the servant.
"I have listened to your prattle long enough, monster," said Richard, the female servant glaring even harder at the remark. Richard continued to speak, "I cannot allow such actions to go unpunished. Here and now, I shall put you down."
The female servant giggled slightly before breaking out into a full-blown cackle, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Do you really think you can kill me?" She once more got into a battle stance, "fine, then die just like other heroes before you."
She once again charged forward, only this time Richard charged forward as well and met her halfway. The two briefly struggled when the enemy parried Richard's sword to the side and attempted to bat his head with the butt of her spear. Richard ducked under the spear and swung up with his sword; however, the servant jumped back, trying to keep Richard out of range.
The fight was nothing like the fight against the skeletons. These were two proper heroic spirits in action, and their moves became harder to track as the fight went on. One second, Richard was under a barrage of swings from the servant, the next, the enemy was using her statues to try and disengage from Richard.
While I didn't know who the servant was and what skills she possessed, I had hopes in Richard's skills. In particular, his Godspeed skill, which increases his speed as a fight drags on. I guessed that Richard planned to prolong the battle enough so that he could catch the enemy off guard with a sudden burst of speed.
The group and I watched the battle in awe, the two warriors matching each other blow for blow. I tore my eyes away to look at Mash, who I noticed looked put out and aggravated. I was about to comfort her when Marie let out a gasp, and I brought my attention back to the fight.
Debris and craters littered the courtyard, the few statues now reduced to rubble. Richard was standing over the now disarmed servant, her weapon having fallen close by. "You fought well, monster," Richard praised, "but your end has come."
Richard raised his sword, preparing to execute the servant. "I will at least give you the honour of telling me your name before you die." The servant closed her eyes, seemingly preparing for death.
"I am the Lancer class servant, Medusa!" She yelled, suddenly opening her eyes and looking straight at Richard's own eyes.
My mind whirled at the reveal. The youngest of the Gorgon sisters and one of the most famous monsters in Greek myth, Medusa, turned people to stone with mystic eyes. I was kicking myself for not realising it sooner.
Richard was suddenly frozen stiff when he made eye contact, and Medusa didn't miss the opportunity. She leapt over Richard and dashed to her lance. Once she had retrieved her weapon, she made a beeline for us again, but only Mash stood in her way this time. Marie and I tried to slow her down with our spells, but she merely cut through them with her lance.
Mash stood in front of us, shield planted in the ground, ready to take the brunt of the charge. But before Medusa could attack, she was interrupted again, this time by a multitude of fireballs careening in her direction. She halted her charge and leapt back, dodging the spells, "who's there?" she questioned aloud.
"Who? Look upon me, and you'll know, old friend," a male voice replied. A little way away, another servant materialised in blue motes of light. He was dressed in a blue cloak that shrouded his head, his arms protected by silver gauntlets, and in his hands, he gripped a long wooden staff.
Medusa's eyes narrowed at the new arrival, "Caster!" she exclaimed, "why would you side with these wanderers?"
The now identified caster lowered his hood to reveal a rough looking face with red eyes and blue hair. "Why? Because it's better than teaming up with you!" Caster replied, swinging his arm to the side, instantly drawing runes that shot fireballs towards Medusa. The unexpected attack caught Medusa off guard, and she barely avoided the runic fire by leaping out the way.
While this was going on, I telepathically contacted Richard. "Richard, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Master," he replied, the effects of Lancer's eyes wearing off, "She caught me off guard, but she won't do so again."
Richard returned to the group just as Caster did, both facing the now recovered Medusa. "I am a Caster class servant. For a certain reason, I consider her my enemy. The enemy of my enemy isn't necessarily my ally, but for now, you can trust me," said Caster.
"Green-eyed mage!" he called out, grabbing my attention. "I'll leave the commands to you."
I nodded in acceptance, "Caster, support Saber and keep Medusa from using her eyes. Saber, keep on the offensive. And Mash," I turned to the lone Demi-servant, "guard the group."
Everyone nodded at my orders and once more faced off against the Lancer.
Sorry for the cliff-hanger. I have a new job and wanted to give you something before starting.
In other news, LB 6.5, Charlamagne, Roland and Constantine hype!